Means for introducing moist air to internal-combustion engines



P. W. TODD.

MEANS FOR INTRODUCING MOIST AIR T0 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-14,1917.

1 3Q4Efi$4h Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

P. W. TODD.

MEANS FOR INTRODUCING MOIST AIR T0 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I4, 1917.

1,324,284. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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26 a F i30 2% 0 I i I I |--36 .5 A? 7 25 I Y 6 g v I /0 I Mr I w V w I I 3:111: 7 I ll /7 22 /,S U l [27 2 2/ /4 l I 6 q I PERRY W.- TODD, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

MEANS FOR INTRODUCING MOIST AIR T0 INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed August 14, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERRY W. Tom, a citizen of the United States, residin at the city and county of Denver and tate of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Introducing Moist Air to Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enable 0t ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for introducing moist air to the cylinders of internal combustion engines, my object being to provide an automatically regulated-device adapted to efficiently per- .form the function stated. It is important in a device of this character that the introduction of'the moist air be so regulated that the cylinders will properly be filled at all times in order to obtain the proper compression. When there is a light charge of gasolene or explosive mixture in the cylinders, if there is not sufficient air taken into the cylinders to properly fill them the full efi ciency of the gasolene charge is not obtained, since the compression due to lack of volume in the charge is not sufficient. It is well known that the efficiency of the charge of explosive mixture in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine is largely due to the degree of compression obtained at the time of the ignition.

My improvement is arranged to introduce moist air to the intake of the engine and the point of introduction is preferably between the carbureter and the engine, though it must be understood that the invention is not limited to this location since it is believed that it may be advantageously employed in other locations. In fact, the device may be employed to regulate the flow of fluid in relations other than in connection with internal combustion engines, though the latter use is an important one and is the use to which this specification will be more particularly directed.

The device consists of a hollow member having a s ring actuated piston or slide valve WlllCl is normally in position to cut off the flow of moist air throu h the hollow member to the engine intake fiut which, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec, 9, 1191M. Serial No. 186,163.

the suction of the engine reaches the proper degree, is automatically moved against the tension of the spring, to bring an opening 1n the piston or slide valve into register with openings through which the moist air may pass to the engine intake. This moist air may be obtained from any suitable source, though I prefer to take it from the top of the radiator at a point above the normal water level therein. To be more specific, I employ a conduit which leads from the air space at the top of the radiator to a chamber mounted adjacent the hollow member in which the slide valve or piston is located. This chamber has an opening which com munlcates with the hollow member but is normally closed, due to the fact that the piston as heretofore indicated, is held normally by a spring in such position that the opening therethrough is out of register with the opening in the air chamber. A passage leads from the hollow member on the opposite side of the latter from the opening in the air chamber to the engine intake. Hence, when the piston or slide valve is properly adjusted there is a direct passage for the moist air from the air chamber through the opening in the piston and the said passage to the intake of the engine. The suction is in communication with the hollow member on the side of the piston where the actuating spring of the latter is located, and this communication is efl'ected through the medium of an angular conduit in one member of which a small auxiliary valve is located, the

said valve being spring actuated and so arranged that the suction must first open it before it can act upon the piston or slide valve of the hollow member. Furthermorethis auxiliary valve is adapted to close when the suction is so reduced in the engine cylinders that the introduction of moist air is no longer necessary. As soon as the auxiliary valve closes the spring acting on the piston or slide valve of the hollow member is im mediately moved to the position to completely cut off the supply of moist air.

It will, therefore, be understood that a very important feature of my improvement consists in the fact that the supply of moist air to the engine is automatically regulated, the construction and arrangement being such that the moist air is supplied at such times, as in itsabsence the charge in the cylinders would not have sufficient volume to produce the desired compression, and on the other flit hand, as soon as the introduction of the regular carbureter charge becomes sufiicient to properly fill the cylinders, the supply of air through the medium of my improvement ceases. Another important function performed by the introduction of the moist air is due to the fact that the moisture in this air is converted into steam in the engine cylinders and greatly aids the explosive charge. It is further understood that it is not desirable that the moisture should be converted into steam before it enters the cylinders, since otherwise the increase in expansion due to the presence of moisture will be absent and the efficiency correspondingly reduced.

Having briefly outlined my improvement I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvement showing the same connected with the engine intake, the conduit for supplying moist air being partly broken away. This view is obtained by looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 11, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same, partly in section, looking in the direction of arrows 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4C is a vertical section taken on the lines 44, Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4: looking toward the. right, the parts being shown on a larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66, Fig. 4 shown on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a view of an engine and radiator showing my improvement applied, the parts being shown on a smaller scale.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a hollow member constituting the body of my improved device. This hollow member is preterably vertically disposed, and is provided with two openings designated respectively 6 and 7 these openings being arranged on opposite sides of the hollow member, the

opening 6 communicating with a moist air chamber 8, the latter being also in communication with the top of the radiator 9 by a conduit 10, which is separate from the regular overflow pipe 12 of the radiator. In the conduit 10 is located a valve 13 which may be adjusted for regulating the moist air taken from the radiator, and consequently may, if desired, be used to cut 011' this supply entirely. The bottom of the chamber 8 is provided with a small upwardly projecting nozzle 14 which is threaded through an opening in the bottom of the chamber and is open to the atmosphere by way of a passage 15. The base of the device 14 is provided with a number of openings 16 through which water may enter the nozzle and be acted on by the air entering under the influence of the engine suction, with the result that the liquid is converted into spray or vapor and its utility for use in the cylinder enhanced. Leading from the opening 7 of the hollow member is a conduit 17 whose extremity remote from the hollow member, as shown in the drawing, is provided with an elbow 18 which is threaded into the intake 19 of the engine as shown at 20.

Within the hollow member 5 is located a slide valve or hollow piston 22 which is provided with a transverse opening 21, which when the piston is inthe position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, is in regis ter with the openings 6 and 7 and consequently in position toallow moist air to pass from the air chamber 8 to the engine intake. This hollow piston is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby communication with the moist air chamber is cut off by a spiral spring 23, one extremity of which acts upon the upper end of the piston, while its other extremity is engaged as shown at 24: by a tension screw 25. By adjusting this screw the tension of the piston actuating spring may be regulated. I prefer to employ a sort of cone-shaped spring, since I have found by experience that the tension of the spring may be properly regulated when it is of this shape, and while it must be understood that any suitable spring or cushion may be employed, so far as my experience has gone, I prefer to use the construction of spring illustrated. In order to provide a cushion stop for the piston after the latter has reached a predetermined upward position in the hollow member 5 and prevent the piston from going farther than is necessary in this direction, provide a second spiral spring 26, one extremity of which is connected with the inner extremity of a screw cap 27 as shown at 28, while its opposite extremity. terminates a suitable distance above the upper extremity of the piston when the latter is in its normally closed position. The tension of the cushion or stop spring 26, may be regulated by the adjustment of the screw cap which may be of any desired length, depending on the degree of adjustment required.

The upper extremity of the hollow member 5 just below the screw cap is provided with a nipple 29 having a small opening 30 which is in communication with the hollow member and also with a small tube 31 which is a continuation of the nipple. The nipple is provided with a valve seat 32 having a small valve 33 which is normally held in the seated position by a spring 34 whose tension may be regulated by a screw 85 which is threaded into the outer extremity of the tube 31. A second tube 36 leads from the tubular member 31 to the conduit or air passage 17. The valve33, as illustrated. in the drawings, has its body portion cylindrical in shape and arranged to fill the tube 3]. beyond the valve seat. This cylindrical portion is provided with a number of grooves 37 of sufficient size to allow the suction of the engine to act through the tube 31 and influence the piston of the body member when the valve 33 is unseated, it being understood that the grooves 37 do not extend to the conical point, but terminate beyond the actual seating portion of the auxiliary valve. Hence, when this valve is seated communication between the tube 31 and the hollow member 5 is entirely cut off, while the instant the valve is unseated even in the slightest degree, communication is established between the hollow member 5 and the tube 31 in the rear of the valve. The bottom of the hollow member 5 is open to the atmosphere through aperture 4.

Valve member 22 has a sufliciently loose fit in the hollow member 5 to allow atmospheric pressure to obtain in the upper part of member 5, before the device is put into operation. During the operation of the device, after valve 33 has once opened, the leakage of air into hollow member 5, around valve member 22, is not sufficient to destroy the vacuum effect produced in the upper part of member 5 through pipe 36 and past valve33. Hence the parts are so proportioned that on the opening movement of valve 33, atmospheric pressure obtains in hollow member 5, but after the valve 33 has opened, sub-atmospheric conditions prevail in the hollow member, thus allowing atmospheric pressure through aperture 4 to force valve 22 upwardly, against the spring pressure.

The operation of the device under certain conditions will now be explained. Before the starting of the engine the piston 22 will be in the position shown in Fig. l, whereby its opening 21 is below and out of register with the openings 6 and 7. l have found that practically as soon as the engine is started, the suction will be sufficiently strong to move the piston upwardly in the hollow member 5, whereby the piston opening 21 is above and out of register with the openings 6 and 7. Now, as the admission of the explosive mixture to the engine is increased, the suction will greatly diminish and the piston acted on by the spring 23 will be gradually moved downwardly, whereby moist air will be admitted to the engine as fast as or approximately as fast as the charge will stand the dilution incident thereto. It should be explained that it is not practicable under all circumstances to introduce enough moist air to get full compression, since where the amount of explosive mixture delivered to the engine 15 small, the introduction of suflicient moist air to get full compression would too greatly dilute the explosive mixture charge. The construction, however, is designed to attain as far as possible maximum compression at all times. I have found that with from onehalf to approximately a full charge of explosive mixture, 1 can introduce sutlicient moist air to get maximum or'approximately maximum compression without too greatly diluting the charge. When the moist air is introduced to the engine to the maximum extent, the piston or slide valve 22 is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, and this position of the piston will be maintained as long as the power of the suction and the spring 23 are balanced or approximately balanced.

Hence, in the operation of my improvement the charge of explosive mixture is so suplemented by the charge of moist air, that so far as practicable the same compression is obtained in the cylinders as when the maximum charge of the regular explosive mixture is supplied, thus obtaining as far as possible the full efliciency of the explosive mixture charge when the latter varies from approximately one-half to nearly a full or maximum charge of such mixture.

Again, when the engine is under heavy load and the maximum charge of gasolene or the regular explosive mixture is supplied thereto, the suction will be diminished, due to the fullness of the charge. Under these circumstances it is evident that the explosive mixture charge should not be diluted by the moist air, since the engine is then called upon to do the greatest amount of work. This reduction of suction will result in the instant closing of the valve 33 and the consequent cutting off of the suction from the hollow member 5 above the piston. Hence, the tension of the spring 23 will act immediately to move the piston 22 to the full line position in Fig. 4:, thus cutting 0d the supply of moist air and consequently, doing away entirely with the dilution of the explosive mixture. If for any reason the suc- ,tion should become so strong as to move the piston so high in the hollow member as to uncover the openings 6 and 7 by the movement of the bottom of the piston above the same, the necessary moist air for properly filling the cylinders may be obtained in this manner. Such a condition would arise when I lltl 'llllhi the engine is being used as a brake while device is automatically operable tocover all conditions pf the character indicated. In addition to the advantages heretofore mentioned resulting from the introduction of moist air to the engine, it may be explained that the conversion of the moisture into steam within the engine cylinders results in utilizing the excessive heat which otherwise would be lost through the walls of the cylinder. This, of course, enhances the efficiency and conserves fuel.

It should be explained that the piston 22 is keyed at 22 within the body member 5 to prevent rotary movement while allowingfrec longitudinal travel (see Fig. 3.)

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a suction pro ducing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, an automatic valve within the hollow member and adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and said device entering the hollow member beyond said valve, and an auxiliary automatic valve in said second connection adapted to control the first named valve, whereby the operation of the device is automatically regulated by the suction.

2. The combination with a suction producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, an automatic valve within the hollow member and adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and said device entering the hollow member beyond said valve, and an auxiliary automatic valve in said second connection.

3. The combination with a suction producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, an automatic valve within the hollow member and adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and said device entering the hollow member beyond said valve, an auxiliary automatic valve in said connection, and a source of fluid in communication with said hollow member and controlled directly by one of said valves.

4. The combination with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and the manifold, a valve within the hollow member adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and the manifold communicating with the hollow member beyond said valve, an auxiliary automatic valve in said second connection to control the first named valve, and a source of fluid in communication with the hollow member and controlled by the first named valve.

5. The combination with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and the manifold, a slide esa-sea valve within the hollow member adapted to control the passage of fluid through said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and the manifold communicating with the hollow member beyond said valve, an auxiliary automatic valve in said second connection to control the first named valve, a source of fluid in communication with the hollow member, the slide valve being adapted to control the fluid and admit it to the first named connection.

6. The combination with a suction-producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a valve within the hollow member adapted to control said connection, a second connection through which said valve is operable by the suction of the device, and an auxiliary automatic valve in said second connection to control the first named valve.

7. The combination, with a suction-producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a valve within the hollow member, ports in the valve, ports in the hollow memher, said valve being operable by the suction of the device through said connection, whereby communication between the ports in the hollow member and the ports in the valve will be normally out off by said valve, the suction in the device will tend to move the valve to establish such communication, to move the valve to cut off such communication and to move the valve further to establish such communication when suction increases sufficiently; and to out OK such communication, to establish communication, and to again cut 0% communication between said parts when suction diminishes sufficiently or ceases.

8. The combination with a suction-producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a valve within the hollow member and adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the device and the hollow member, entering the hollow member beyond said valve, said valve being operable by the suction of the device through said second connection, whereby communication between the first named connection and the hollow member will be normally cut 0d by said valve, and the suction in the device will tend to move the valve to establish communication between the first named connection and the hollow member, and to move the valve to cut ofif such communication, and to move the valve further to again establish such communication when suction in creases sufliciently; and to cut ofi such communication, and to establish such communication, and to again cut oil such communication between said parts when suction diminishes sufliciently or ceases.

9. The combination with a suction-pro meanest ducing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a valve within the hollow member and adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and said device, through which said valve is operable by the suction of the device, an auxiliary valve in said second connection to control the first named valve, whereby communication between the first named connection and the hollow member will be normally cut off by said valve, and the suction in the device will tend to move the valve to establish communication between the first named connection and the hollow member,-

and to move the valve to cut oil' such comnumication, and to move the valve further to again establish such communication when suction increases sufliciently; and to cut ofl' such communication, and to establish such communication, and to again out off such communication between said parts, when suction diminishes sufficiently or ceases.

10. The combination with a suction-producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a valve within the hollow member and adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the hollow mem ber and said device, through which said valve is operable by the suction of the device, an auxiliary automatic valve In said second connection to control the first named valve, whereby communication between the first named connection and the hollow member will be normally cut ofi by said valve, and the suction in the device will tend to move the valve to establish communication between the first named connection and the hollow member, and to move the valve to cut oif such communication, and to move the valve further to again establish such communication when suction increases sufliciently; and to cut off such communication and to establish such communication, and to again out ofl such communication between said parts when suction diminlshes sufliciently or ceases.

11. The combination with a suction-producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a slide valve within the hollow member and adapted to control said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and said device, through which said valve is operable by the suction of the device, an auxiliary valve in said second connection to control the first named valve, whereby communication between the first named connection and the hollow member will be normally cut ofl' by said valve, and the suction in the device will tend to move the valve to establish communication between the first named connection and the hollow member, and to move the valve to cut off such communication, and to move the valve further to again establish such communication when suction increases sufliciently; and to cut oil such communication, and to establish such communication and to again cut off such communication between said parts when suction diminishes sulficiently or ceases.

12. The combination with a suction-producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a source of fluid in communication with the hollow member, a valve within the hollow member and adapted to control the flow of fluid to said connection, said valve being operable by the suction of the device through said connection, whereby the flow of fluid through the hollow member to the device will be normally cut 011' by said valve, and the suction in said device will tend to move the valve to establish communication between the source of fluid and the device, and to move the valve to cut ofl such communication, and to again establish such communication when the suction increases sufiiciently; and to cut off such communication, and to establish such communication, and to again out off such communication when suction diminishes sufficiently or ceases.

13. The combination with a suction-producing device, of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a source of fluid in communication with the hollow member, a valve within the hollow member and adapted to control the flow of fluid to said connection between the hollow member and said device, the said valve being operable by the suction of the device through a second connection between the device and the hollow member, whereby the flow of fluid through the hollow member to the device will be normally cut off b said valve, and the suction in said device wi I tend to move the valve to establish communication between the source of fluid and the device, and to move the valve to cut oil such communication, and to again establish such communication when suction increases sufliciently; and to again cut off such communication, and to establish such communication, and to cut off such communication when suction diminishes sufiiciently or ceases.

14. The combination with a suction-producing device of a hollow member, a connection between the hollow member and said device, a source of fluid in communication with the hollow member, a valve within the hollow member, and adapted to control the flow of fluid to said connection, a second connection between the hollow member and said device, an auxiliary valve within the said second connection to control the first named valve, the first named valve being operable by the suction of the device through said second connection, whereby the flow of fluid through the hollow member to the device will be normally cut oil by said valve, and the suction in said device will tend to move the valve to establish communication between the source of fluid and the device, and

to move the valve to cut off such communi-.

maaaea matic valve to control said second communication.

16. The combination of a hollow member in communication with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, an auto matic valve within the hollow member adapted to control-the flowof fluid through said hollow member, and an auxiliarv automatic valve in said communication to control the first named valve.

17. The combination of a hollow member in communication with a suction-producing device, an automatic valve within the hollow member, adapted to control the flow of fluid through said hollow member, and an auxiliary automatic valve in said communication to control the first named valve.

In testimony whereof ll affix my signature.

PERRY W. TODD. 

